Solario Thriller headlines Saturday Action

[Wandering Eyes]

This time last year, Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was rushing to the top of the 2-year-old charts in Sandown’s G3 Solario S. and while 12 months on it is unlikely we will see the performance of another division leader, the latest renewal of the time-honoured staging post is a typically intriguing affair. Clive Cox pitches Positive (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) back into action after his five-length second to Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood July 30. A day on from the G3 Round Tower S. success of the third-placed Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was a further five lengths behind at the Sussex venue, Alan Spence’s relative bargain-buy at 55,000gns looks a tough nut to crack in the seven-furlong feature.

“We were thrilled with his run in the Vintage and we’ve been very pleased with him since,” Cox said. “The Vintage was a step we were happy to take and he justified that step. I’d like to think he has taken another step forward since and we’re looking forward to running him. There are some promising horses in the race on Saturday, but we’re hopeful. He is certainly a horse we’re excited about for the future.”

Pinatubo’s trainer Charlie Appleby saddles Al Suhail (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the dual Classic-placed Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) and therefore a half-brother to Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who tended to over-race in his dam’s style when scoring by four lengths over this trip at Yarmouth Aug. 15. “Al Suhail progressed nicely from his first run to his second run and he was quite impressive at Yarmouth,” he said. “He’s a horse with a lot of natural pace and we think he’s ready to step up to the next level. He’s run over a straight seven furlongs twice so far, but we think the turning seven and the stiff finish at Sandown will suit him. You’ve obviously got to have a lot of respect for the favourite and there are a few other unexposed horses in there.”

Fourth and beaten over 13 lengths in the Vintage was Rob Ferguson’s TDN Rising Star Visinari (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who was also third in the G2 July S. over six furlongs at Newmarket July 11. “We’re obviously taking on a horse that finished quite a long way in front of us at Goodwood, but we’re not going to run away from one horse,” trainer Mark Johnston commented. “Conditions are right and we’ll see how he performs.” John Gosden is seeking to equal Sir Henry Cecil’s record of six wins in this with the Aug. 7 Kempton winner Eshaasy (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said, “He’s a work in progress and I can’t tell you he’s going to win on Saturday, but we hope he’s a nice horse for the future.”

Earlier on the card, Sir Michael Stoute is looking for a record seventh success in the G3 Atalanta S. with TDN Rising Star Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal), who was third in the G1 Coronation S. over this mile trip at Royal Ascot June 21 and in the G3 Oak Tree S. over seven furlongs at Goodwood last time Aug. 2. Possibly unfortunate on the latter occasion, Khalid Abdullah’s relative of Frankel (GB) has received a boost via the exploits of the second Perfection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and fifth Royal Intervention (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Teddy Grimthorpe said, “She was a bit unlucky at Goodwood. She got struck into and things just didn’t happen for on the day, but that’s racing. She’s been in good form since and physically she’s done well, so we have to be hopeful.”

If there is a chink in Jubiloso’s armour, it could be found out by Princess Haya of Jordan’s Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who beat the re-opposing Look Around (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Listed Valiant S. at Ascot July 26. At Chantilly, the five-furlong G3 Prix d’Arenberg sees just two home-trained fillies attempt to ward off six from Britain including Godolphin’s TDN Rising Star Divine Spirit (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who drops back in trip after finishing fifth in the July 12 G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket. “We feel that the drop back to five furlongs will see Divine Spirit back to her best,” Charlie Appleby said. “Six furlongs stretched her last time, whereas the ground was too soft for her at Royal Ascot.”

Godolphin are also represented in Baden-Baden’s G3 Zukunfts-Rennen with the July 14 Listed Listed Prix Roland de Chambure winner Well of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was four-lengths second to the subsequent G1 Prix Morny winner Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in the six-furlong G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville July 28. Charlie Appleby commented, “Well of Wisdom has some rock-solid form to his name, especially with Earthlight going on to win at group one level. The step back up to seven furlongs is going to suit and he heads to Germany with a strong chance of winning a group race.” Interestingly, one of the chief German-trained protagonists Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) was also adrift of Earthlight in a Deauville conditions event July 2 and has since won at Clairefontaine Aug. 9. Like the leading candidate for honours in the fixture’s feature G2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis, the G1 Preis der Diana third Durance (Ger) (Champs Elysees {GB}), he is one who has spent some of his formative period racing in France.

 

The post Solario Thriller headlines Saturday Action appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article